Brussels blunder threatens marine wildlife

Marine wildlife around the Scottish coastline is being put at risk because a piece of European legislation protecting it has been allowed to expire, environmental campaigners have warned.

WWF Scotland and RSPB Scotland said that the EU failed to meet a deadline last month to introduce amendments needed to extend a conservation regulation that protects sensitive marine environments and species.

They said that the conservation of vulnerable Scottish fish stocks could also be at risk after the legislation expired at midnight last night.

The charities warned that the EU would no longer be able legally to prevent certain activities in fragile marine areas, such as the use of deep-sea gill nets, which had been prohibited due to the high volume of catches of vulnerable species…

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